--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of…" description: "\"PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of plausibility than of unlikelihood. The testimony of two credible witnesses as opposed to that of only one.\" —..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/ambrose-bierce-140_credible_proof-n-evidence-having-a-shade-more-of_2706737.jpg" --- # PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of plausibility… ![“PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of plausibility than of unlikelihood. The testimony of two credible witnesses as opposed to that of only one.” quote by Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/ambrose-bierce-140_credible_proof-n-evidence-having-a-shade-more-of_2706737.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/ambrose-bierce-140_credible_proof-n-evidence-having-a-shade-more-of_2706737.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94f/ambrose-bierce-140_credible_proof-n-evidence-having-a-shade-more-of_2706737.jpg) > “PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of plausibility than of unlikelihood. The testimony of two credible witnesses as opposed to that of only one.” [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Evidence is more plausible than unlikely when supported by two credible witnesses versus one. **In simple terms:** Two trustworthy sources increase credibility. Key Takeaway Seek multiple reliable testimonies. Themes evidence credibility logic Mood critical analytical Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - court cases - academic research - journalistic reporting Key Concepts law philosophy critical thinking Questions to Reflect On - How do you assess witness reliability? - What alternatives exist to corroborate facts? A Different Perspective Reliance on witnesses can be biased. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Plausibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plausibility/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Shade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shade/) [Testimony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/testimony/) ## Related quotes > [I've talked with people of stature-of military and government credentials and position-and heard their stories, and their desire to tell their stories openly to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/i-ve-talked-with-people-of-stature-of-military-and-government/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [I believe that the people who survive a cataclysm, rather than those who stand by and analyze it, are nearly always the more credible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/i-believe-that-the-people-who-survive-a-cataclysm-rather-than-those/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [The best evidence of our having the truth is our walking in the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-best-evidence-of-our-having-the-truth-is-our-walking-in-the-truth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [There is no such thing as absolute proof. There is only evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-edward-griffin/there-is-no-such-thing-as-absolute-proof-there-is-only-evidence/) [G. Edward Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-edward-griffin/) > [“The atheist might have no proof for the supernatural, but they also have no proof against it. If we start at a neutral position…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-n-roe/the-atheist-might-have-no-proof-for-the-supernatural-but-they-also/) [Lewis N. Roe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-n-roe/) > [They've got him - credible witnesses, documents, heaven knows what else. In all my years as a prosecutor I have never seen such an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/they-ve-got-him-credible-witnesses-documents-heaven-knows-what-else/) [Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/) > [“Holding me, as it were, within the infinite hope of your plausibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-davis/holding-me-as-it-were-within-the-infinite-hope-of-your-plausibility/) [Peter Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-davis/) > [The fictioneer labors under the constraint of plausibility; his inventions must stay within the capacity of the audience to accept and believe. God, of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-e-westlake/the-fictioneer-labors-under-the-constraint-of-plausibility-his/) [Donald E. Westlake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-e-westlake/) > [“Love covers a myriad of plausibility structures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-plum-ucci/love-covers-a-myriad-of-plausibility-structures/) [Carol Plum-Ucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-plum-ucci/) > [Perfect nonsense goes on in the world. Sometimes there is no plausibility at all](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/perfect-nonsense-goes-on-in-the-world-sometimes-there-is-no/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In any kind of comic scene you're going to perhaps push the boundaries of plausibility but as long as there is some semblance of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rafe-spall/in-any-kind-of-comic-scene-you-re-going-to-perhaps-push-the/) [Rafe Spall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rafe-spall/) > [My friends and I have often discussed the plausibility of a connection between qualitatively bad music and quantifiably successful music, often citing the example…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oneohtrix-point-never/my-friends-and-i-have-often-discussed-the-plausibility-of-a/) [Oneohtrix Point Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oneohtrix-point-never/) > [We humans seem to be extremely good at generating ideas, theories, and explanations that have the ring of plausibility. We may be relatively deficient,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gilovich/we-humans-seem-to-be-extremely-good-at-generating-ideas-theories-and/) [Thomas Gilovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-gilovich/) > [Office tends to confer a dreadful plausibility on even the most negligible of those who hold it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-lawson/office-tends-to-confer-a-dreadful-plausibility-on-even-the-most/) Mark Lawson > [“Objective truth is difficult to come by, and even if you have it, what you can pass on to the next person is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-abraham/objective-truth-is-difficult-to-come-by-and-even-if-you-have-it-what/) [Daniel Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-abraham/) ## More by Ambrose Bierce > [OBSESSED, p.p. Vexed by an evil spirit, like the Gadarene swine and other critics. Obsession was once more common than it is now. Arasthus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/obsessed-p-p-vexed-by-an-evil-spirit-like-the-gadarene-swine-and/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/decide-v-i-to-succumb-to-the-preponderance-of-one-set-of-influences/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [IMMORAL, adj. Inexpedient. Whatever in the long run and with regard to the greater number of instances men find to be generally inexpedient comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/immoral-adj-inexpedient-whatever-in-the-long-run-and-with-regard-to/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [REVIEW, v.t. To set your wisdom (holding not a doubt of it./ Although in truth there's neither bone nor skin to it)/ At work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/review-v-t-to-set-your-wisdom-holding-not-a-doubt-of-it-although-in/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RUBBISH, n. Worthless matter, such as the religions, philosophies, literatures, arts and sciences of the tribes infesting the regions lying due south from Boreaplas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/rubbish-n-worthless-matter-such-as-the-religions-philosophies/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [There was never a genius who was not thought a fool until he disclosed himself; whereas he is a fool then only.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/there-was-never-a-genius-who-was-not-thought-a-fool-until-he/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/telephone-n-an-invention-of-the-devil-which-abrogates-some-of-the/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [WHANGDEPOOTENAWAH, n. In the Ojibwa tongue, disaster; an unexpected affliction that strikes hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/whangdepootenawah-n-in-the-ojibwa-tongue-disaster-an-unexpected/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Jealous, adj. Unduly concerned about the preservation of that which can be lost only if not worth keeping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/jealous-adj-unduly-concerned-about-the-preservation-of-that-which-can/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [RIDICULE, n. Words designed to show that the person of whom they are uttered is devoid of the dignity of character distinguishing him who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/ridicule-n-words-designed-to-show-that-the-person-of-whom-they-are/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Think twice before you speak to a friend in need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/think-twice-before-you-speak-to-a-friend-in-need/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [HERMIT, n. A person whose vices and follies are not sociable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/hermit-n-a-person-whose-vices-and-follies-are-not-sociable/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [TARIFF, n. A scale of taxes on imports, designed to protect the domestic producer against the greed of his consumer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/tariff-n-a-scale-of-taxes-on-imports-designed-to-protect-the-domestic/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [A bad marriage is like an electrical thrilling machine: it makes you dance, but you can't let go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/a-bad-marriage-is-like-an-electrical-thrilling-machine-it-makes-you/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) [Explore all 1,157 Ambrose Bierce quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More Credible quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) Brian Reade > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) Nicola Horlick > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Lexicon grabbed me with the opening lines, and never let go. An absolutely thrilling story, featuring an array of compelling characters in an eerily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/lexicon-grabbed-me-with-the-opening-lines-and-never-let-go-an/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [“That’s because speakers are only credible when what they say is in sync with who they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-witt/that-s-because-speakers-are-only-credible-when-what-they-say-is-in/) Christopher Witt > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [Constantly there's a credibility issue; you're judged on how you look. If you look good, people assume you aren't credible. It's a battle you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/constantly-there-s-a-credibility-issue-you-re-judged-on-how-you-look/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [Transforming a brand into a socially responsible leader doesn't happen overnight by simply writing new marketing and advertising strategies. It takes effort to identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/transforming-a-brand-into-a-socially-responsible-leader-doesn-t/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [All ages before ours believed in gods in some form or other. Only an unparalleled impoverishment in symbolism could enable us to rediscover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/all-ages-before-ours-believed-in-gods-in-some-form-or-other-only-an/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Many Liberals are rightly dismayed that on this vital issue of climate change we are not simply without a policy, without any prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/many-liberals-are-rightly-dismayed-that-on-this-vital-issue-of/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) Browse all 280 Credible quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "PROOF, n. Evidence having a shade more of plausibility than of unlikelihood. 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